click above image to enlarge
The new issue of Motor Trend arrived in the mail and our eyes were instantly attracted to this story that just went live on motortrend.com. The MT crew has learned that the supercharged V8 slated for use in the next-gen Cadillac CTS-V will be none other than a "detuned" version of the 7.0L LS7 powerplant debuting in the Corvette Blue Devil, or rather, Corvette Z07. The MT editors expect the version used in the CTS-V to produce about 600 horsepower, or around 100 horses short of what the Z07 will produce.
Pick any possible competitor for the next CTS-V and it's obvious that all will come up short to Caddy's new mega muscle sedan. The BMW M3 and Audi RS4 both produce only 420 horsepower, while the horsepower happy AMG team stuffed only 503 in the Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG. Even the BMW M5, which is larger than the CTS, will come up short with an upcoming horsepower bump into the low-500 horsepower range. In short, the CTS-V will offer the same amount of horsepower as the 2008 Dodge Viper, which is pure insanity. GM's got stones, folks, and Cadillac is clearly the prime beneficiary of its newfound fortitude.
Much thanks to Motor Trend editor-in-chief Angus Mackenzie for allowing Autoblog to republish the rendering above. The July issue (you can subscribe here) is thicker than a Thesaurus and our fave in a string of recent good issues from the MT team.
[Source: Motor Trend - pic used with permission, do not reproduce]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 5)
Christopher Watts @ Jun 4th 2007 2:55PM
hubbadahubbadhubbada....if this is the case, I'll start saving my $ now!
Peter @ Jun 4th 2007 3:03PM
I CAN HAS UR BMW M5 NOW? nom nom nom
I'll believe it when I see it. Hopefully it'll have the refinement and luxury needed to compete with the Germans.
naggs @ Jun 4th 2007 3:05PM
whoa, thats a lot of horse power. is this car going to still come in at under $60k? that would be rediculous if a cadillac sedan was the new bang for the buck champ.
Tool @ Jun 4th 2007 3:06PM
I really like the looks of the new CTS. Just imagine 600 horses, that is going to be crazy!
The FedEx Man @ Jun 4th 2007 3:11PM
This is just getting a bit silly now. I don't know which will go first, the petrol in the fuel tank or the bulb for traction control light.
blitzkrieg79 @ Jun 4th 2007 3:12PM
600HP and a handling of a Mack truck, looks are in the eye of beholder and it looks too blocky and not aerodynamic for my taste, so all in all, nice performance but it doesn't suit my tastes/needs.
FLR @ Jun 4th 2007 3:16PM
You obviously never drove a CTS-V. They are very good handling cars contrary to what you may believe.
John R @ Jun 4th 2007 3:24PM
Top Gear did a segement on the CTS-V. Naturally Clarkson ragged on it because it was American, but it did more than just hold its own against an Audi S4 on the Top Gear track. Don't know the link, but it is on YouTube if you're so inclined to search for it.
Car Designer @ Jun 4th 2007 4:43PM
blitzkrieg- "it looks too blocky and not aerodynamic"
just so you are aware, blocky IS aerodynamic. Most people think fluid and smooth means aerodynamic...take a look at a NASCAR, it is a brick made to look shapely...this is from experience as a designer and being in a wind tunnel running aero tests...
Mike Ishi @ Jun 9th 2007 2:31AM
@ car designer:
Oh, so that's why planes are designed as cubes?
Let me tell you, even if you think this car is beautiful, the majority will not. It's impossible to say what's beautiful and what's ugly, but it is possible to realize design trends and who is buying what-people will not be buying this.
I am extraordinarily disappointed in the terrible job American car companies are doing in designing their cars from the unreliable engines to the un-luxurious rides to the poorly handling chassis. I am a proud American but I am not the kind of person who follows everything America does. No, I am the kind of person who wants to push America FURTHER and expand our country's economy. Stop sticking by our country's cars and start improving them so we can be proud without being foolish.
Tyo @ Jun 4th 2007 3:15PM
Im just so happy the new CTS-V is going to stay a pushrod. Cadillac is wasting their time with the dohc supercharged v8's theyre sticking the the other V cars.
V-Series @ Jun 4th 2007 3:15PM
Wow I might have to seriously concider this as my next vehicle!!
http://www.vseries.net
blitzkrieg79 @ Jun 4th 2007 3:22PM
Unfortunately I did drove a 2005 CTS-V, on straight aways it was pure fun but on the turns it was nowhere near the refinement of europeans or even some of the japanese sports cars. Engine is not everything, US automakers concentrate too much on HP and not enough on the total refinement, suspension, handling of the cars, which is a shame because potentially they could be as good as the high-end foreign makes while also being price competetive.
doglet @ Jun 4th 2007 3:16PM
lol @ lolcats
clearly this car is going to be faster than the competition. what remains to be seen is the quality. is the new CTS truly a world class sports sedan? does it have the interior, ride, handeling, techno goodies that have become expected in this class?
either way the HP war has just officially entered the rediculous and is now bordering on completly retarded. i love it. 600 hp caddies, 700 hp vettes and mustangs, what will ze germans come back with? TT v8 m3? the japs are just now getting into the game, by the time the nsx replacement and the toyota supercars are released 500 hp will be quaint.
this is spiraling way out of control and i love it.
Mike Ishi @ Jun 9th 2007 2:37AM
Wake up, we don't need this power.
I know it's fun to compare numbers, but when you're actually IN the market for buying a luxury car, you don't really give a crap if it has 400, 500 or 600 horsepower... You want it to be comfortable, quiet and high quality.
People who buy luxury cars tend to be in the older crowd. They tend to be people who do not need to have a fast car to prove to others that they're superior (half the time they don't even care about proving such things.) They do not feel the need to race or push their vehicle's engines to the extremes. They need a comfortable, quality, beautiful car with an appropriate amount of pickup.
Leave the engine in the Corvette where it belongs.
Mike Ishi @ Jun 9th 2007 2:40AM
Oh, btw, that comment wasn't directed at you but rather it was an add-on to what you mentioned earlier in your comment... About the quality.
$0.02 @ Jun 4th 2007 3:19PM
Here's the deal: 600 horses is great and this new engine and the great new interior/exterior styling is going to improve this vehicle. I just have one issue, when comparing it to the 5 Series and this is driving dynamics and suspension. If the engineers can get that right, the V is going to be a huge deal.
bmoredlj @ Jun 4th 2007 3:20PM
Mercedes has had a 600-horsepower engine for a long time, so it's not that silly.
Besides, the Dodge Viper wanted a war...and now it has one!!!
Justin @ Jun 5th 2007 8:10AM
guess what?
The 2005 and 2007 are nothing alike. Comment on something you know about.
Jit @ Jun 4th 2007 3:23PM
Yeah right. If the ZO6 has 500bhp then the blue devil will have 600bhp. Meaning if they do detune this engine by 100bhp, then they will only have 500bhp.
DOES ANYONE DO ANY RESEARCH AROUND HERE OR WHAT?